Ireland
Is Hemp Legal in Ireland?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in Ireland under licence from the HPRA, issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (SI 173/2017). Growers must use seed of EU-approved varieties listed in the EU Common Catalogue with a maximum THC content of 0.3% THC (raised from 0.2% by EU Regulation 2021/2115, effective 1 January 2023, and applied in Ireland for the 2023 growing season onward).
Hemp licences are issued annually and require detailed information on field locations, seed source, and intended end use. Cultivation for fibre and seed is well established; cultivation for CBD extraction is permitted but extraction and processing of cannabinoid-rich material remains regulated under the Misuse of Drugs framework. Hemp seed, hempseed oil, and hemp protein are authorised foods (not novel) and may be sold without novel food approval. Smokable hemp flower remains contested - the HPRA treats it as a controlled drug if any THC is present.
Key facts ·
Ireland
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.3% THC (field crop, EU Regulation 2021/2115)
Regulator
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Key regulation
Misuse of Drugs Act 1977; SI 173/2017; EU Regulation 2021/2115
Effective
January 1, 2023
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import of hemp seed for sowing requires use of EU-approved varieties and is subject to plant health certification. Import and export of hemp fibre, hurds, hemp seed, hempseed oil, and hemp protein for food/feed/industrial use is permitted without a controlled-drug licence provided THC is below 0.3% and the product is not a controlled cannabis extract. Hemp biomass intended for cannabinoid extraction may require HPRA licensing. Customs (Revenue) and DAFM enforce variety and THC compliance on imports.
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